St. Landry democrat., 1887-04-02
q SAILORS ADVENTURES.
Driven to Sea in an Open Boat, 1t Takes
Him Two Years to Get Back Home.


Driven to Sea in an Open Boat, 1t Takes
Him Two Years to Get Back Home.
John Gibbons is bushy-bearded
sailor who has story which would be
worthy of the imaginative power OF a
Defoe or Marryatt. The narrative
which he related to a reporter is inter-
esting. Over two years ago he sailed
out of this port in the bark Thompson.
bound for Calais, Me. The day had
been lowering and gloomy, and the
wind was freshening as they left the
port. The little crew of hardy sailors
that manned the bark soon perceived
that the storm was gathering fast, but
they kept right on their course. The
storm increased and the waves broke
over the vessel as she plowed along
under recfed sail. When off Montauk
Point, Gibbons made up his mind that
he would leave the bark and try to get
to land. His companions tried to dis
suade him, and told him it was sure
death to risk himself to the angry
waters. But their arguments were OF
no avail, and Gibbons decided to make
the venture As he was merely a pas
senger on the vessel, he was allowed to
have his own way, so a life-boat was
lowered and he set off to reach the land.
The little boat and the bark soon parted
company. The storm grew heavier
and night fell suddenly upon the waters.
shutting out the craft that bore the adj
venturous sailor from the sight of the
men on the bark.
When Gibbons found himself alone
in the boat he experienced the curious
sensations that a man feels when he is
apparently shut out from the world
and had nothing but frail boat be-
tween him and the terrible waters.
But he rowed along pluckily,
keeping the boat headed up well
against the wind and was making some
progress when he had the misfortune
to break an oar That threw him COM
pletely on the mercy of the waves and
wind. They buffeted the little boat
only the work of short time, in
which the boat shipped so much water
that she began to sink. Gibbons
chung to the boat, which finally over
turned. The storm was terrific. The
night was densely dark, and the ship
wrecked sailor was momentarily ex-
pecting to 90 down. All through the
night he chung to the boat and managed
to escape death.
When day came again he found that
he had drifted out and was without
hope unless he should be picked up by
a passing vessel. He had no rations
and began te suffer the pangs of
hunger. The minutes and hours dragged
YEARLY along, but towards night he
espied a sail and managed to attract the
attention of the men on the vessel,
which proved to be a bark bound for
England. Gibbons was taken aboard.
The news of his foolhardy undertake
ing soon reached his home, which is at
Glen Cove, L. l, and he was given up
for lost. As time wore on and no news
came from him, his wife and his rela-
tlyes in Glen Cove began to believe
that he was at the bottom of the
ocean. Gibbons meanwhile had long
and perilous voyage, the vessel being
driven out of her coulse, and finally he
reached France, where he was taken
sick and lay ill for weeks with a fever
in which he was delirious, Thus it
happened it was nearly a year before
his friends were appraised of his safety,
and that the news was a joyful sur
prise to them goes without saying. 1t
was some months longer before he was
able to get home.-New Eaue's Conn.
NeUS.